Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
BARKHUIZEN IS QUIDS IN!
Goals are worth a bit more now that North End are on the up TRAVEL
TOM BARKHUIZEN remembers when his mum, Celia, used to give him £1 for every goal that he scored as a lad.
Now his goals could be worth millions if they lead Preston to the Premier League.
Barkhuizen scored twice, including a brilliant curling finish for the winner, and Daniel Johnson netted from the spot as North End hit back from 2-0 down to beat local rivals Blackburn in a Lancashire derby.
The win keeps them unbeaten at Deepdale and flying high – just two points behind leaders West Brom.
It is now seven goals this season for Barkhuizen – and four in his last four – to send his demanding family home happy.
“I don’t think I’ll be on a pound a goal like I used to be when I was a kid,” joked the 26-year-old.
“My mum comes to all the home games and quite a few of the away games. Both of my parents and especially my little brother can be very critical, but you need that.
“They have always told me when I’m not playing well and when I do play well. They were buzzing after the game. They want to see me do well and us as a team do well.”
Preston are one of only five clubs in the Championship who have never played in the Premier League.
They have twice lost in the play-off final, but Alex Neil’s team remain unfashionable choices for promotion.
Yet, as Burnley and Sheffield United have shown in recent seasons, that means nothing in this crazy division. So Barkhuizen sees no reason why
Preston can’t continue to ride the wave.
“We don’t want to speak too soon, but we are up there on merit,” he added. “We didn’t show that in the first half. But the key is to keep going and pushing and pushing. We want it so badly.”
For Blackburn, it is now six games without a win. They slipped to within three points of the drop zone as a Declan Rudd own goal and Sam Gallagher’s first league goal for the club counted for nothing.
Rovers manager Tony Mowbray was furious at how his side naively threw away three points, but hopes this can be a kickstart for Gallagher.
The striker, who arrived from Southampton in the summer, had scored in the League Cup, but this was his first goal in 13 league appearances.
“You forget this is a lad who moved 250 miles away from his family,” said Mowbray. “So it’s been a tough few months settling in.
“But he is a striker who will score goals for this club and prove to be a good signing.”